Evaluating safety and compliance of pedestrian crossings in rural contexts: A before and after study of RRFBs and LED-embedded signs

Improving the safety of pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure is critical for reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Pedestrian traffic safety risks are heightened in rural contexts. A key area of focus is the protection of pedestrians crossing roadways between intersections and in high-risk areas such as rural to urban transition zones. One way to reduce safety risks for pedestrians is through the use of crossing treatments such as rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and pedestrian activated LED-embedded signs (LESs), which use a pedestrian activated beacon to increase drivers’ awareness of pedestrians. Prior research on these treatments leaves open questions about their effectiveness, particularly in rural contexts. Consequently, rural communities have limited guidance for their use. The authors address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of RRFBs and LESs in small and rural communities in Vermont using a rigorous before-after observational study design. The results indicate that RRFBs improve compliance and safety in rural and small community contexts, while LESs have little to no effect on compliance and safety. The findings hold in both central locations and rural to urban transition zones.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2024.107462
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457524000071
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Pezeshknejad, Parsa
  • 0000-0001-9920-5206
  • Rowangould, Dana
  • 0000-0001-9839-368X
• Publication Date: 2024-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 107462
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 198
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: At grade intersections; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrian safety; Rural highways; Vulnerable road users; Warning signs
• Geographic Terms: Vermont
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01908194
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 14 2024 2:42PM